Care of stainless steel

Guide to methods and tips for maintaining and keeping stainless steel in kitchens clean and looking like new

Your new kitchen looks beautiful – for about five minutes. Then the shiny stainless steel gets dirty fingerprints, the odd scratch and starts to look dull and used. It may seem like an inevitability, but stainless steel has been used in professional kitchens for many years simply because it is so hard wearing, stain resistant and hygienic. All it takes is a bit of time and a few learned methods to keep it looking in tip top condition.

Keeping the Stainless Steel Clean:

The stain resistant nature of stainless steel relies on it being kept free of dirt at all times. It will begin to corrode if exposed to certain acidic substances, so cleaning daily is a must.

Basic hot soapy water will be fine for most cases of dirt. This needs to be followed with a clean water rinse and a thorough dry.

Fingerprints can be removed with window cleaner.

Stubborn stains can be removed with a mildly abrasive cleaner with a very soft cloth. Take care not to rub too hard or you will scratch the surface. Rinse off all residues and dry.

Limescale can be removed by using a 25% vinegar to water mix. Apply and leave to soak for a short while. It is essential to rinse this off completely or rust spots will develop.

Kits can be purchased for complete resurfacing of stainless steel. This will need to be done across the whole surface, but will bring a dull area back to life.

To keep your stainless steel looking great, once all the hard work has been done, it is sometimes a good idea to wipe it with baby oil. This will prevent further staining and will catch dirt and dust making cleaning easier.

Window cleaner is also very good at giving stainless steel a mirror like finish.

It really doesn't take much to keep stainless steel in pristine condition and its popularity is proof of how useful it is as a material in the kitchen. Stainless steel will keep on looking good even when you have decided you want a change.